Wales at the 2022 World Cup: Page boys evens for knockout stage
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Wales World Cup odds: Page boys evens to reach knockout stage
Wales secured a spot at the World Cup for the first time in 58 years with a 1-0 victory over Ukraine and we are taking a look at some of the markets involving Rob Page’s men in Qatar.
Wales start their Group B campaign against United States on the opening day of the tournament and are viewed as the 15/8 underdogs to get off to a winning start in what will be the third meeting between the nations.
A shadow Welsh team drew 0-0 with a youthful USA side in November 2020, 17 years after Mark Hughes had fielded an inexperienced side in a 2-0 friendly defeat on a narrow pitch in San Jose.
USA had made it to seven successive World Cup finals but failed to make it to Russia four years ago and it took a superior goal difference over Costa Rica to secure the third and final spot in CONCACAF qualifying.
They have reached the knockout stage in four of their last six appearances at the finals and are 11/8 to beat the Welsh, who drew all three group games in their last appearance at the World Cup in 1958 which meant they had to face Hungary again in a play-off, with both teams on three points.
Wales overcame a half-time deficit to win 2-1, but Pele scored the only goal of the game for Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Wales v Iran (November 25)
Four days after their opener, Wales take on Iran, making their third successive appearance at the World Cup finals and sixth overall.
Croatian coach Dragan Skokic has overseen 15 victories and one draw in 18 games since he took the national reins in February 2020 and they qualified as group winners, two points clear of South Korea.
The Lions of Persia have only ever won twice at the finals and have never beaten European opposition at the World Cup, but they caused a stir in Russia where they finished third in Group B, a point behind Spain and Portugal.
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Following a technical review, @GarethBale11 has been awarded the winning goal against Ukraine that sent us to the #FIFAWorldCup.
Iran beat Morocco in their opener four years ago and then defended gallantly against Spain, who took the lead through a fortuitous goal by Diego Costa, although the underdogs were denied an equaliser by the linesman’s offside flag following a scramble from a free-kick. A stoppage-time penalty sealed a 1-1 draw with Portugal in their final game.
Their main threat comes from Bayer Leverkusen’s Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi, who netted 20 goals in Porto’s title-winning season in Portugal.
The teams have met just once before in a friendly in 1978, which the Welsh won 1-0 in Tehran.
Wales v England (November 29)
The big one for Gareth Bale and co, a match that could decide whether Wales reach the knockout stage so they will hope to have points in the bag before they face England, who are 7/1 in the World Cup winner odds.
We have already examined the England World Cup odds and as group winners in qualifying with eight wins and two draws from 10 games, Gareth Southgate’s side will be hot favourites to beat Wales as they did at Euro 2016 thanks to Daniel Sturridge’s stoppage-time winner.
However, Chris Coleman’s side had the last laugh as they finished top of the group and famously went on to reach the semi-finals.
England have won the last six meetings with Wales – all of which took place this century – the last being a 3-0 win in a friendly at Wembley where Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey were both absent for Ryan Giggs’ side.
Group B betting and next opponents
Wales had to beat Austria and Ukraine in the play-offs to reach their first World Cup finals in 64 years and they seem to be in a straight battle with the United States to reach the knockout phase.
Iran are the 10/1 outsiders to top Group B or 5/2 to play at the knockout stage for the first time in their history.
Should Wales finish runner-up they will play the winner of Group A on December 3 which is likely to be Netherlands, but if they top the pool as they did at Euro 2016, then either Senegal, Ecuador or World Cup hosts Qatar await on December 4.
A run to the quarter-finals would be regarded as a massive success for the principality, an option which is available at 6/1, while a repeat of their appearance in the last four at the 2016 European Championship is 14/1.
